C ait-opener



E. E. KEPNER.

CAN OPENER. APPLICATION FILED DEC. 27,19l9.

1339732 1 7. Patented Nov. 15 ,-1921..

Jim 6 0 Ke ower.

i UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

'ELMER E. KEPNER, OF SPRINGFIELD, OREGON.

CAN-OPENER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed December 27, 1919. Serial No. 347,699.

useful Improvements in Can-Openers, of

which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in sheet metal cuttersand can openers.

An important object of this invention is to provide a device of the class described which may be manually operated in a highly convenient and'expeditious manner without the exercise of skill or dexterity.

A further object of this invention is to provide a canopener or sheet metal cutter which. may be employed toprovide a can with a plurality of successive incisions by a downward thrust :ofthe hand whereby the possibility of cutting or lacerating the hand as the result of a rocking movement of" the ordinary can opener may be dispensed with.

A further object of this invention is to provide a device of the class described pro-' videdwith a blade having a cutting edge arranged at an acute angle to the longitudinal axis of the same so that when the cutting.

edge is "engaged with the top of a can the same maylbe opened with a minimum of effort on the part of the operator.

A further object of the invention is to provide a device of the class described which is of highlysimplified construction, cheap to manufacture'and neat in appearance.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent during the course of the following description.

In the accompanying drawing forming a part of this application and in whichlike numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the same,

, Figure 1 is a front elevation of the improved device.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same,

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary perspective of the device, the blade being shown detached.

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of another form of the device.

In the drawing wherein for the purpose of illustration is shown a preferred embodiment of the invention, the numeral 5 generally designates a handle which, as shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, is cast in a single piece of metal; though it is obvious that the handle may be made of wood or other material possessing the re isite st g s 1.1. .1?-

trated in Figs. 1 and 2, the handle 5 includes a pair of arms 6 connected at their upper and lower. ends as indicated at 7 and 8 respectively. With particular reference to Fig. 2, it will be observed that the handle is curved longitudinally and has its upper end rounded so as to form a convenient gripping element for the hand and one which will not indent any particular portion of the hand when the device is used. The forward portion of the handle is provided with a head 9 extending in the direction of travel of the entire devicev and having one side out away,,as indicated'at 10, thereby forming an attaching portion for a cutting blade-11. In thus cutting away or recessing the head the blade is disposed. in line with the longitudinal center of the head whereby the thrust 011 the handle is transmitted directly to the blade. .The shank 12 of the cutting blade has its side edges inclined inwardly, as indicated at 13, as are the side edges of the head 9. A plurality of rivets 14 are extended through openings '15 and 16 in the head 9 and the blade .11 and are adapted to securely attach the=blade to'the handle. The recessed or cut away portion of the head provides a shoulder 16 against which the upper end 15 of the shank contacts for taking up the thrust on the rivets 14 during the use of the device.

The forward end of the blade 11 is provided with a beveled cutting edge 17 which extends at an acute angle to the longitudinal axis of the blade and the handle whereby an inclined cutting edge, will be presented to the metal to be cut. The forward end 18 of the beveled cutting edge 17 terminates in a sharp point for forming penetrating element so that whenthe blade 11 is thrust downwardly the penetrating element will be first engaged withthe can and the remaining portion of the beveled cutting edge will be subsequently presented to the material to be cut. The lower end of the head 9 is provided with a longitudinally curved stop element or shoulder 19 which has one longitu- Patented Nov. 15, 1921. i

"the penetrating element.

ranged inwardly of the ends of the arcuate shoulder 19 so that by no possibility will the fingers be permitted to extend over and engage the blade.

When it is desired to open .a can or other metal container, the handle is manually gripped with the index finger in contact with the arcuate shoulder 19. The device is now thrust downwardly so that the penetrating element 18 will be passed through the top of the can and the beveled cutting edge 17 will be presented to the top of the can for lengthening the incision made by As the cutting edge 17 is presented to the top ofthe can at an acute angle, the blade will meet with a minimum of resistance. Whenth'e blade has been thrust downwardly to the limit of its movement, the fingers are prevented from engaging the can by the extended portions of the shoulder 19. If it is desired to continue the cutting, the blade is removed from the opening and the penetrating element is advanced to the rear end of the incision just made and by pressing downwardly with the hand and laterally with the index finger the incision is extended. By this mode of operation the necessity of rocking the handle is dispensed with and consequently the possibility of the device slipping and therefore injuring the hand is eliminated. It will be noted that the shank 12 of the blade flatly engages one side of the head 9 and the adjacent side of the shoulder 19 and it is therefore retained in a relatively stationary position.

In the form of the invention illustrated in Fig. 4-, the handle is constructed from an elongated length of metal 22 bent upon itself intermediate its ends and curved to provide a convenient gripping element for the hand. The blade 11 has its shank 12 confined between the attaching portions 24 and 25 of a pair of shoulders 26 and 27.

erally form one edge of the attaching portion 25. In this form of the invention, the

forced by an inclined rim 29 extending latshoulders 26 and 27 extend beyond the longitudinal edges of the cutting blade and serve to prevent the fingers from coming into contact with the edges of the can or the blade.

Vith reference to the foregoing descrip-' tion taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, the many advantages of a can opener constructed in accordance wlth my invention may be readily appreciated. Also it is obvious that 'minor changes in the arrangement and construction of parts may be made without departing'fromfthe spirit of the invention or the scope of what is claimed; and I do not therefore restrict myself to the specific details of construction herein shown, but reserve the right to make such minor changes, variations and modifications as will remain within the scope of what is claimed; 7

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is: g I j 1. A device ofthe class described includinga handle, a pairof laterally projecting shoulders having attaching portions arranged in spaced relation at the forward portion of the handle, a blade having a shank flatly engaged by the attaching portions of said shoulders, and means extending through said handle, the shank of the blade and the attaching portions of said shoulders for securing said blade and said shoulders securely in position.

2. A device of the class described including handle having its forward portion provided with a pair of spaced attaching portions, a pair of laterally projecting shoulders having attaching portions arranged between the attaching portions of 95 said handle, a blade having {a shank confined between the attaching portions of said shoulders, said blade being provided with a cutting edge extending at an angle to the longitudinal axis of the handle, and a pair of inclined lateral projecting ribs formed onthe attaching portions of said shoulders and being flush with the adjacent edge of i the blade. I

In testimony whereof I .afiix signature. 105

ELMER E. KEPNER. [Ls] 

